Card-selecting device.



I. R. vmzENT @L cfs. WARREN. CARD SELECTING DEVICE.

' '9'5" meme@ June 5,1917.

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Patented June 5, 1917.

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CARD SELECTI'NG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1915.

T. R. VINZENT at C. E. WARREN.

I, ...WWW 401 T. R. VINZENI & C. EI WARREN.

Patented June 5, 1917.

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WITN ESSES m M my? my faim/#1440140( THEODORE R. VINZENT AND CLYDE E. WARREN, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

CARD-SELECTING DEVICE.

v Application filed October 20, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, THnoDoRE R. VIN- zEN'r and CLYDE E. WARREN, citizens of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Card-Selecting Devices, of which the fcllowing is a speciiication.

This invention relates to card selecting 1o devices, and has for its object to quickly and easily separate the mass of cards containing data on their faces into groups or classes according to the data thereon for convenience in compiling statistics.

In carrying out this object, we employ, in combination, a mass of data bearing cards each containing a plurality of marginal slots positioned with reference to the data contained thereon, an nvertible holder for receiving said cards, and a rod yextending across said holder'and adjustably movable to various positions thereon to coincide with any desired series of alined slots, whereby to permit the card vcontaining those particular slots to `fall upon the rod from whence they may be removed.

One form which our invention may assume is exemplied in thefollowing description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a device embodying our invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 show detailed views of the ybearings to removably receive the adjustable rod employed in our device. y

Figs. 4 and 5 show detailed views of said rod inserted in the slots in the cards, and.

illustrate the different positions of the same.

Fig. 6 shows an end elevation of the holder.

Fig. 7 shows a transverse, sectional view, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and 9 show detailed views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 taken at right angles thereto.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the key card employed in connection with our device.

Fig. l1 shows a similar view of one of the dlata bearing cards provided with marginal s ots.

Referring in detail to the form of our invention illustrated herewith, a holder 10 is shown, said holder being of a box-like character, rectangular in form, open at its upper side and provided with Corner strips A1l Serial No. 57,016. i

which normally project above the top sides ofthe holder. At either side of the holder are arranged bracket bearings 12, within each pair of which is journaled an endless screw 13 extending substantially the full4 length of the holder. Carried upon each set of screws 13, in threaded engagement therewith, is an adjustable bearing 14 having an upstanding rear surace 15 in engagement with the adjacent side of the holder to prevent the turning of the bearing as the screw is rotated. positioned in transverse alinement, and a rod 16 having a flat body portion is removably received in key hole slots 1 7 formed in the upstanding `portions 15 of said bearings. The shoulders 18 of said rod which enter the slots are preferably of a ilat formation arranged at right angles to the plane of the flat body portion of .the rod, so that when 'i Said bearings 14 are normally a key, the keyway of which would be the slots in the cards.

Means are provided for locking the rod in position within the slots 17, said means being in the form lof a slide plate 19 carried upon one of the upstanding portions 15, by means of a pin and slot connection 20, and having an extended lower corner portion 21 of a shape to pass closely beneath the shoulder 18 when said shoulder is disposed in a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby locking the rod against turning movement withinfthe slots. By means of a projecting fiange portion 22 said slide plate is moved in and out upon its support; the outward limit of movement of the same being, aS.

lshown in Fig. 3, where the projecting corner portion 21 is out of engagement with the shoulderlS, at which time the rod may be freely turned within the slots.

A semicircular bearing Iportion 23 is carried upon each of the adjustable bearings 14 and projects outwardly therefrom to receive a cylindrical portion 24, formed on the adjacent end of the rod 16, and at the extreme end of the rod we provide a thumbscrew head 25 for turning said rod. For the purpose of rotating the endless screws 13 1n unison, whereby to cause said adjustable bearings 14 to be moved endwise thereon, we

` distance to overlie said scale andfcoperate.

provide -the adjacent ends of said screws with beveled pinions 26 in position to mesh with beveled gears 27, carried upon atransverse shaft 28 supported in bearings mounted upon the projecting ends 29 of the longitudinal sides ofthe holder. vFor turning said shaft 28 hand disks 30 are fixed thereon at either send. Turning movement of the shaft 28 causes the screws- 13 to be rotated in the same direction, thereby moving the bearwith a graduated scale 31, and an indicatory hand 32 is formed upon the adjacent bearing 14 and projects outwardly a suiiicient therewith for convenience in accurately adjusting the position of the rod 16.

A mass of data bearing cards, comprising a multiplicity of individual cards 33 of a form such as shown in Fig. 11, is arranged in the holder '10, running lengthwise thereof. Each of said cards 33 being preferably of a rectangular shape in plan is provided on its longitudinal sides with marginal slots 34 and, as in the case` ofthe slots 17 on the bearings 14, each-.slot 34 has a restricted exit opening and an enlarged circular head, which for convenience, will be termed a keyhole slot. These slots 34 are positioned upon the cards 33 in a systematic and uniform manner, each with reference to a particular fact or datum appearing on the face of the card; the scheme being as shown in Fig. 11 Where dotted lines connect each slot with the particular printed information on the card to which said slot has reference. It should be .here stated that the slots 34 are formed upon the cards 33 after the data or informationhas been written thereon and a special machine (not shown in this application) may be provided to punch all of said slots in one operation and having the capability of adjusting itself to locate said slots at any desired point along the longitudinal edges of the cards. Y

For convenience in `ldetermining the proper location for the slots 34 a key card 35, as shown in Fig. 10, may be provided which will save the necessity of printing a scale upon the edges of the data Abearing cards 33. This key card 35, as will be seen, has two scales, one adjacent to each ofthe longitudinal edges of the card and designed for use, one for the top and the other for the bottom l of the data bearing cards 33.y The present key card 35 is particularly adapted for use in connection with va system of this character where fire insurance statistics'are being kept and compiled and has printed on its upper border agraduated scale 36 embodying the numbers from one to forty-six to correspond with the scale 31a on the. ledge 31 of the holder.

Above thisl scale is a code 37 which is divided into fivev sections, or any other dethe section labeled Year yof expiration.

It is believed that the scheme of marking and designating the remaining spaces and sections is entirely obvious.

On the lower border ofthe key card 35 is a scale 38 similar to that on the upper border, with the exception that the order of the numbers is reversed; the space one to forty-six reading from right to left. This arrangement of the scale is made necessary for the reason that when the position of the slots on the lower border of the cards 33 is determined said card is inverted, and likewise when the card is being. selected from the holder in a manner hereinafter described.

Beneath the scale 38 is a code 39 coperating with said scale which is dividedinto sections labeled Company, Commissiom Occupancy, Classification and Construction and-protection, each of said sections as in the case of the code 37 being subdivided into spaces of various numbers equal in width to the spaces in the overlying grady uated scale 38.

. When it is desired to make up a system of this nature, the cards 33 are written out with the information which is to be preserved for future reference and in the case of ire insurance data the cards 33 may be made carbon copies of an entirely necessary process which accompanies each policy of insurance. This contains every vital point of the policy and hence the card 33 may in a way be automatically produced. When these cards 33 have been written upon, the operator applies the key card 35 to ascertain the correct position where the slots 34 should be punched. It is obvious that a machine can be made'which will be adjustable to punch the slots at both the upperl being Arizona which upon consulting the code corresponding to this portion of the card will be found to be the seventh space in the upper left-hand corner, and so on as to the rest of the information on the card.

When these cards have been properly punched according to the data which they bear, they are kept in a mass for future reference, and if, for instance, it should be desired to ascertain the number of policies in force in a particular locality or the number of policies to expire at a certain time named, or other vital information affecting the business, the cards are placed in the holder 10, as shown in Fig. 1, either side up, and held in alined position thereon by means of a follower block 40 carried on pintles 41 projecting through slots 42 at either end of the holder and adjustably held in any position in said slots by means of screw-threaded caps 43.

With the cards in even position standing vertically in the holder 10 all slots having reference 'to the same facts or data will be in alinement as is obvious and the key card 35 is then used in combination with the scale l 31a on the ledgeI 31 to determine the eXact location of the particular information ordata which it is desired to collect.A For instance, if the operator is desirous of collecting the reinsurance with the Y company he will have placed the cards 33 right side up in the holder and moved the adjustable rod 16 thereon to a position where the indicator hand 32 will register with the space 35 on the scale-31a, with the result that the rod 16 will be positioned directly above and in alinement with all slots 34 having reference tothe Y company.. The operator then inverts the holder, standing it upon the projecting corner pieces 11 and loosens the cards 33, whereupon those having slots in register with the rod 16 will drop below the remaimng cards on account of their slots embracing said rod. The rod at this time will, of cou1se,'be disposed in a vertical plane and thereafter the operator turns said rod in its bearings, releasing it by means of the slide plate 19 so that the fiat body portion of said rod will be turned to a horizontal plane, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 9, where lied and carried upon the cards.- By providholder and again upon the data bearing cards is obviated, and machines of this character can thus be made up in standard form without reference to any particular business to which the machine may be applied.

It is to be noted, in connection with the figures 384 on the card shown in Fig. 11, that we are enabled to select cards according to figures of any desired number. In the fire insurance business it is the custom to classify policies according to numerical classes; these classes sometimes running as high as nine hundred. The method of selecting cards according to classes whenthat class consists of three figures, as in the present instance, is one of elimination, that is to say, in the case of class 384 shown, the operator will first select all cards that fall within the three hundreds, takin'g this mass to again select all those within the 300 that fall within the eighties and thence taking the three hundred eighties and running them through the selector to obtain the iinal desired class of 384. Manifestly there are other methods of operating our selector than those here enumerated and many dilferent uses for the same can be found.

While we have shown the cards here as being particularly designed for the insurance business, it is obvious that they may be used in connection with any other business where the collection and classification of facts and figures are desired. The particular construction and arrangement of the several parts of the device here shown are obviously susceptible of ready modication and hence we do not limit ourselves to any specific details in the construction thereof. Many changes in these features of construction may, therefore, be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-bearing cards, each provided with a plurality of marginal keyhole slots, said slots being positioned formly with reference to the data contained on the cards, a holder for said cards, and means for removing from said holder all cards bearing coincident slots.

2. In a card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of marginal slots positioned with reference to the data contained thereon, an invertible holder for said cards, and a key on said holder extending across the cards and adjustably movable to various positions thereon to register with any desired series of alined slots, whereby to permit the cards bearing thoselparticular,

' slots to fall below the other cards and upon said key when the holder is inverted.

3- ln a card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-*bearing cards,

'contained yon the cards, an invertible holder for said cards, and a removable rectangular rod carried onl said holder and extending above said cards transversely thereof, said rod being adjustably movable to various positions on the holder to register with any desired series of alined slots in the cards whereby when the holder is inverted the cards bearing thoseparticular Aslots will be permitted to fall below the other cards engaging the rod with their slots, whereupon by turning said rectangular rod in the enlarged portion of the slots the cards will be retained thereon for removal.

4. Ina card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of marginal slots positioned with reference to the data contained thereon, an invertible holder for said cards, a key on said holder extending across the cards and. adjustably movable tovarious positions thereon to register with any desired series of alinedA-slots, whereby to permit the cards bearing those particular slots to fall below the other cards and upon said key when the holder is inverted, and a.

guide for determining the location of the desired series of slots. 5. In a card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of marginal slots positioned with reference to the data contained thereon, an invertible holder for said Cards', a key on said holderextending across the cards and adjustably movable to various positions thereon to register with any desired series of alined slots, whereby to permit the cards bearing -those particular slots to fall below the other cards and upon saidl key when the holder is inverted, 'and a guide for determining the location of the desired series of slots, said guide comprising an indicator linger carried by the. adjustable rod,

and a scale carried upon the holder adjacent to said linger.

6. In a card selecting device, the combinal.

tion of a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of keyhole slots positioned on the margins thereofl and arranged uniformly with respect to the data contained on the cards', an invertible holder 4for said cards, endless screws at either side of said holder, bearings carried upon said screws and movable longitudinally thereon when said screws are turned,l a rectangular rod extending across said holder transversely of the cards and removably received in said bearings, and means for turning said screws in unison to adjustably move said rod to various positions thereon to register with anydesired series of alinedslots whereby when the holder is inverted the cards bearing those particular slots will fall below the other cards engaging the rod with their slots, whereupon by turning said rectangular rod in its bearings thevcards will be 'retainedl thereon for removal.

7. In a card selecting device, a mass of data-bearin cards, each provided with a plurality 0% keyhole slots positioned uniformly on the margins thereof with reference to the data contained on the card for the purpose stated.

8. The combination with a card holder, of a stack of cards therein with marginal notches, the marginal notches of some of the cards being out of line with the 'notches in othercards, and a traveling key registrable with alined notches and adapted, on the inversion of the holder, to be received into the notches with which it happens to register.l

TI-IEODORE R. VIN ZENT. j CLYDE E. WARREN.

Witnesses: JOHN H. HERRING 

